Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Banquet in the Red Chamber

Amidst the melodious music, accompanied by Fatty Zhou, Qian Shichen was the first to set foot in the Red Leaf Hall after Kaifeng.Despite the worst of his mood, he could still be seen trying to pull himself together.There are three rows on the left and right, thirteen large round tables in each row, lined up on both sides, leaving a wide space of more than ten steps in the middle, so that people don't feel cramped. At a glance, Qian Shichen recognized his own table.The main table is located on the right side of the center of the Red Leaf Hall. It is different from other banquets. It is covered with golden cloth, which is more resplendent and eye-catching compared with the red leaf-patterned cloth on the white ground of the tables.

Composed of the eight most popular girls in Hongyelou, the welcoming group headed by Baichun led more than a dozen beautiful maids, dressed in fashionable and luxurious clothes, saluted him together, and sang in unison: "Welcome!" The guest of honor, Mr. Qian, Huguang Political Envoy, is here." That kind of natural female voice chanting, the tender taste in it, at this moment of distress, made Qian Shichen feel extremely strange and fascinated. The leader of Baichun came to meet Qian Shichen, and Fatty Zhou made a gesture. The original melodious music suddenly multiplied and became loud and loud, with a strong rhythm.

At this time, Baichun came to Qian Shichen's other side, stretched out his hand to lightly hold his left arm, and the other seven beauties greeted the guests such as Ji Nieti and Hu Guang who followed behind him. Qian Shichen came to his senses, knowing that Fatty Zhou had seen through his problems, and specially created an opportunity for him to ask for help. This opportunity was fleeting, and as long as Hu Guang caught up and sat with him in the chairmanship, he would miss the opportunity. Qian Shichen whispered in Baichun's ear, "Give me the poison to seal my throat, please, I don't have another choice."

The seat where Wu Zixu was sitting was full of people from Hongyelou, including Yanniang and Chanyi, Wushuangnv was sitting next to him, and the others were deacon-level staff.For the convenience of work, this table is the one closest to the back door. At this time, the guests were seated one after another, and more people were vying to see Wu Zixu's Eight Beauties. The seats of Chanyi and Yanniang are empty, and the two of them have not had time to sit down until now. Wu Zixu said to the veiled Wushuang woman: "Shuangshuang guess what the starter will be? I really want to know, because I don't have time to eat today, and I'm so hungry now."

Wu Shuang gave him an annoyed look, and was about to respond when a voice came from behind the two of them, "Is this Mr. Lang Geng?" Wu Zixu turned his head to look, and saw that he was a man in his thirties, dressed in business clothes, tall and thin, with hidden eyes, quite a character.Wu Zixu smiled and said: "It's my little brother, but is it more pleasing to the eye if you shave off your beard? You can go, because you have completed the task of identifying people, and now all the brothers in your hall know who is the fifth thief. Please Pass a word to Commander Ji for me, just let the horse come here."

The man's face changed slightly, he hesitated to speak, and finally left. Wuzi turned around as if nothing had happened, and asked Wushuangnv: "Where are we talking?" Wushuangnv stared at him with a surprised look, as if she didn't know him until now. Cicada Wing came, sat down beside Wu Zixu, and whispered nervously: "Is there any poison that seals the throat with blood?" Wu Zixu asked in astonishment, "What are you doing here?" Cicada Wing said: "The eldest miss wanted it, she didn't explain the reason." Wu Zixu said, "Have you asked Master Qiu Jiu?"

Cicada Wing said: "I asked, he said he never brought such things with him, and he wanted me to ask you. Alas! Why did the eldest lady suddenly find poison? It's scary!" Wu Zixu said: "Don't worry, the eldest lady definitely didn't use it herself, but at the request of Qian Shichen. Now in the entire Hongye Hall, he is the one who most wishes to have a poison pill in his hand." Wu Shuang said: "I have one, which can pierce the gut. It was originally reserved for my own use, so give it to him now! He can kill himself, it's cheap for him." Qiu Jiushi was seated by the chairman, next to Baichun, followed by Qian Shichen, Zhou Fatty, Hu Guang and several other most important guests, a total of ten people, most of the seats were empty at this time, because they went to see Eight beautiful pictures.

Qiu Jiushi somewhat regretted choosing to escape during the dinner, and only at this moment did he deeply understand Jneti's methods.Under his careful observation, he found three suspicious people. These three people were distributed in different banquets, and of course there were more than three factory guard masters who mixed into the banquet. From this, it can be inferred that the enemy is in the Guangbu hall, and they may suddenly attack at any time , attacking him and the five escaped robbers.What makes him uneasy is the amazingly powerful four-bow arrow machine, which will accidentally injure innocent people.

He didn't think the plan of the five thieves was feasible.Ji Nie is ruthless and will never suspend the activation because of the continuation of the performance. The only factor that determines when he activates is whether the deployment is completed or not. Qiu Jiushi knew that he and the five escaped robbers were at a passive and disadvantaged position, and he couldn't reverse the situation. The worst thing was that he still hadn't found any trace of Ji Nieti. Fatty Zhou was chatting with Qian Shichen and Hu Guang without saying a word. Qian Shichen was forced to smile, and Baichun also lost the mood to speak because of Qian Shichen's sad situation, which made the atmosphere very unnatural.

Cicada Wing came and leaned over to speak in Baichun's ear, Qiu Jiushi knew that Cicada Wing had completed the task, fetched the poison and handed it to Baichun.Thinking of Qian Shichen's glorious past when he was in power for a while, it is embarrassing to end up like this today. Baichun held the small porcelain bottle containing the poisonous pills in his hand, hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, reached out from under the table, and lightly touched Qian Shichen's elbow. Qiu Jiushi took the opportunity to talk to Hu Guang and draw his attention away. Qian Shichen spread his palms, holding the small porcelain bottle.

Baichun didn't take back the catkin, but took advantage of the opportunity to hold Qian Shichen's hand tightly, Qian Shichen held her instead, his thick palm trembled slightly, and the small porcelain bottle was sandwiched between the two palms, which contained a gut that could pierce the gut. poison. Baichun hangs down his head, his liver and intestines are broken.Although she has no affection for Qian Shichen, she is always a close friend, and Qian Shichen has never bullied her, which has won her favor.Thinking of his demeanor in detailing the past events in Zhuancheng, compared with his miserable end today, how could Baichun have no regrets! Qian Shichen's hand stopped trembling, like a poison pill in a bottle, making him feel that he was in control of his destiny again. Qian Shichen let go and put the porcelain bottle into his belt. Baichun found his hand again, and wrote the word "escape" on the palm of his hand. Qian Shichen first wrote the word "no" on her palm, and then wrote the word "medicine", and then patted her palm to express his gratitude. "Ding Ding Ding Ding—" The entrance bell rang. Wu Zixu leaned closer to Wu Shuangnv's crystal-clear jade ear and whispered: "There are over a hundred lanterns in the hall, will they really be extinguished one by one, and then come back to light again?" Wushuang girl endured his intimacy helplessly, frowned lightly and said: "I hope it can be done, but time only allows me to play tricks on most of the lanterns, focusing on the lanterns near the back door. Baichun and I have tried our best Take the right time, and hope the effect is not too bad. The colorful lights are not extinguished, but turned dark, losing the function of lighting, but the time is only ten breaths, don't worry, I will have other ways to cover you." Wu Zixu sat up straight, let out a breath and said, "Shuangshuang is really amazing." Wu Shuang looked at him in surprise, and said, "Aren't you afraid to arouse his viciousness by provoking Jneti so openly?" Wu Zixu shrugged and said, "Is there a difference?" The Wushuang girl was stunned and speechless. The drums sounded, and the song and dance performance led by Baichun opened the prelude to the dinner. The view of the building is full of Yueyang, and the Dongting of Chuanjiu is open. The geese lead away their sorrows, and the mountains come with a good moon. Lian stayed in the cloud, and the cup was received in the sky. After being drunk, the cool breeze blows and blows people's sleeves back. Thirty-six beautiful beauties, dressed in brightly colored clothes and holding two-foot-long streamers, do not sing or dance, but just stand out and make their appearances, which is enough to make people intoxicated and unable to control themselves, let alone eight of them. , is the impressive fairy in the painting, who can not be overwhelmed by it. The gentle singing is neat and uniform, like the sparkling microwaves on Dongting Lake under the moonlight, as comfortable as the embroidery bed in the boudoir of a beautiful woman, once you climb it, you will never want to leave.Their singing is unique, and the touching sweetness escapes from their articulation and breathing, making the poems praising Dongting Lake rippling in the vast space of Hongye Hall, full of uncontrollable affection. There were hundreds of guests in the hall, everyone was silent and held their breath, as if watching and listening to a magical happening. The ribbons of red, orange, yellow and green are like living fetishes in the hands of the beauties. As they advance or retreat, they interweave various beautiful patterns. It became a stage for them to perform, and everyone was dazzled and dazzled. All the spectators in the hall were fascinated by it, and Qian Shichen and Qiu Jiushi had a different feeling, except for one person. Jneti sat at a table three tables away from the main table, with his back facing Qiu Jiushi, and his table was an outer banquet table near the main entrance. When the song and dance performance started, he turned his head to look at the chairman's side, because he knew that the victory was already in his hands, and even if Qiu Jiushi found him, he would still be doomed, so he no longer had any scruples. He received a signal from his subordinates in a secret way that his men had entered the attack position, surrounded the Hongye Hall, and isolated everyone outside the hall, whether it was the attendants of the guests or the personnel of the Hongye Hall. In the two auxiliary buildings on the left and right, complete the task of clearing the field. The inside and outside of Hongyetang are all under his absolute control. Jneti looked at what was happening in front of him with cold eyes, without any emotional fluctuations.Since he joined the factory guard, he has cultivated a heart of iron and stone, and the reason why he was able to ascend to the position of commander in chief is because no one is more ruthless than him. At this moment when the future fate could be decided, he would not show mercy, and no matter how many innocent people were killed by their attacks, that would not be considered, as long as they could kill Qiu Jiushi and Wudun Pirates. He received a message from the Five Dungeons from his subordinates in a roundabout way, which made him immediately think of Gu Yueming, they were also so irritating and hateful.Of course he won't get angry because of this, and he won't be angry when he acts. Ji Nieti had already made a decision, and the moment when the song and dance performance was completed was when he launched an attack, even the Heavenly King and Lao Tzu could not shake this decision. In addition to the four bows and arrows on his body, there is also a small copper gong hidden. As long as the copper stick is used to strike the gong, the brothers who are waiting outside the hall will block the front and rear doors and every window, and the hall is under various strategies. Those who are in position will attack at the same time.Under the fire of thirty-seven four-bow and crossbow machines, ten Gu Yueming could not survive, let alone just Qiu Jiushi and Wu Dunrob. The gong and the knocking stick are being held in the left and right hands respectively, waiting for that moment to come under the table. Gu Yueming and Huijian stood on a small hill, watching the city gate from a distance. Ever since the sound of firecrackers came from the direction of Hongyelou, he has entered a state of full alert, concentrating on the movement of the city gate, so that he can seize the opportunity to make the most appropriate response to any emergency. The sky is covered with dark clouds, and the heavy hanging clouds are low-pressure, which makes people feel heavy.The number of people leaving the city has decreased significantly, while those entering the city are hurrying on their way.Because it was still early, there was still an endless stream of pedestrians and horses heading towards Yueyang City. Suddenly there was a change, no one left the city, and a team of city guards came out from the city gate. Gu Yueming complained that something was wrong, jumped on the horse, ran down the hill, and rushed towards the gate of the city. At this moment, he knew that the south gate had been replaced by Jineti's men. This team of soldiers was going to cut off the flow of people entering the city, and then pull up the suspension bridge across the moat to close the city gate. Gu Yueming had no other choice but to forcibly break into the city gate to prevent the enemy from raising the suspension bridge, and to stay there until Wu Zixu, Wu Shuangnv, Qiu Jiushi and Baichun arrived at the city gate. Unexpectedly, a joke that Zeng and Wu Zixu said would become a reality. The emperor's son Xiaoxiang couldn't go, so there was nothing left in the Dongting room of autumn grass. Sweeping away the Minghu Lake and opening the jade mirror, the painting is Junshan. It was the first time for Wu Zixu to hear Baichun open Jinkou singing a cappella. At this time, the drums and music were in harmony, and Baichun stood proudly in the center of the Red Leaf Hall, and the beauties made all kinds of beautiful poses around her like stars. , flowing in circles in a dense and orderly manner, making Baichun appear and hide from time to time, more attractive than any moment. Baichun's singing voice is sweet, and the beautiful poems are narrated by her. She methodically places the inherent poetic and picturesque feelings in the strange space of music, making people feel that the human voice is the best and irreplaceable instrument.Just Baichun's singing is enough to capture the hearts of every listener in the hall. The Wushuang girl next to her got up and left the table, reminding Wu Zixu that the song and dance was about to end and it was time for the Wushuang girl to perform. Suddenly he felt something strange, Wu Zixu's waist and abdomen became hot. He was startled secretly, lowered his head to examine, and almost exclaimed. The Ye Mingzhu, which had been losing its radiance since Qian Shichen saw it, unexpectedly burst into golden light again. Even though the lights were brightly lit, even the belt couldn't cover up its radiance. my mother!Could it be that Goddess Yunmeng used this unique method to inform herself that now is the best time to act? But from any point of view, this moment should be the most inappropriate time. Is Goddess Yunmeng going to die by herself? The drums started suddenly, this time with a strong rhythm, and everyone in the band of more than thirty people played vigorously without any reservations. The changes in the arena were even more unexpected.The thirty-six beauties changed their style just now and became full of energy. They just threw the ribbons at the guest seats at will, and the ribbons flew all over the hall. . Then all the girls took off the gorgeous clothes that covered their bodies, revealing all kinds of tight clothes that showed their graceful curves, and at the same time threw their coats on the mat without hesitation. up the peak. Jneti didn't expect the chaotic scene in front of him, so he had to stand up to keep his vision. Everyone at the main table waited, including Qiu Jiushi, no one joined the game of competing for the ribbons and clothes, and the five escaped robbers in the distance still sat still.The two target persons seem to be as surprised by the current situation as Genieti. The lively situation came to an end, and no matter the winner or the loser, they all returned to their seats happily, with the taste of returning home with a lot of fun. When Ji Nieti sat down, another change occurred on the field. The thirty-six beauties turned into wild girls as if they had been completely reborn. Seeing unity in the middle, seeing the rules in the absence of rules, doing everything possible to seduce, the guests applauded and applauded in unison, and the atmosphere boiled up. Jneti is a person who is used to the scene, and he also admired it in his heart. It was the first time he saw such a unique singing and dancing performance, where the performers and the audience mingle together. All of a sudden, the girls retreated to the center near the back door like a tide, and when they were folded together, people suddenly realized that the color of their clothes was carefully designed and matched seamlessly, from purple on the outer edge to red, orange red, and orange yellow. The pure snow white in the middle happens to be the hue and shape of a dazzling flower, which is breathtaking. The drums rest together. The audience was silent. The girls sang leisurely. The two phases of the lake and the autumn moon are in harmony, and the surface of the lake has no wind mirror. Looking at the green mountains and rivers in Dongting, there is a green snail in a silver plate. Ji Nieti knew that the song and dance performance was coming to an end, so get ready, the copper stick in his left hand can strike the gong at any moment. Sure enough, the girls dispersed in all directions and went back to their seats. When the cheers and applause resounded, suddenly two pillars of blue fireworks shot up to the sky from where the girls had surrounded, reaching a height of two feet, and immediately attracted the attention of the audience. . At the place where the flame started, there stood a charming and beautiful beauty, wearing a large black robe, and the blue flame erupted from the palm of her flat shoulder. The situation was extremely strange. Her jet-black hair fell freely over her shoulders like a waterfall.The black hair and black robe set off her skin even more than snow, and captured people's hearts. Ji Nieti's mind was shaken, and the copper stick in his hand couldn't hit the gong no matter what. The heart of stone, which had been unruly and ruthless for many years, was suddenly breached, and the long-lost and forgotten feeling broke through and occupied his mind. The beautiful woman in front of her is exactly like Xue Niang back then, and she even looks pretty much like her. An inexplicable sadness swept across the sea of ​​hearts like a gust of wind, setting off huge waves. In an instant, power, wealth, and princely dominance no longer have the slightest meaning.